Man jailed 14 years for raping cousin

Fungai Lupande Court Reporter A 21-year-old man was yesterday sentenced to 14 years in prison for raping his 13-year-old cousin.

Harare magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya sentenced the man to 17 years but suspended three years for four years on condition of good behaviour.

The court heard that man stayed with his grandmother, the 13-year-old, her sister and their brother in Overspill, Epworth.

The 13-year-old, her sister and brother slept in the same room.

The court heard that the girl was in the habit of removing her clothes as well as panties when she retired to bed.

The sleeping arrangement was that the brother slept between the girls.

One day in September last year around 9pm the siblings went to sleep.

The court heard that around midnight the 13-year-old tried to turn over while asleep but felt pinned down.

She woke up and saw her cousin in the middle of sexually assaulting her.

The girl remained quiet and was afraid to scream after being warned by their grandmother not to say anything if the 21-year-old touched her body or entered their bedroom.

After the abuse the 21-year-old left the room.

The following morning the girl told her grandmother what had happened.

The grandmother called the 21-year-old and warned him not to repeat the offence.

She gave the man $10 to leave Epworth and go to their rural home in Mount Darwin.

When the 13-year-old returned home from school she found her cousin already gone.

At the end of October last year the girl told her other grandmother of the abuse and the matter was reported to the police.

Meanwhile, a father allegedly locked his nine-year-old son in the toilet and defecated before forcing him to wipe his backside, the court heard on Wednesday, writes Prosper Dembedza.

Farai Mutyambizi of Highlands, Harare, was charged with ill-treatment or neglect of children and young persons when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Tendai Rusinahama.

He was granted free bail.

Allegations are that on December 21 last year, Mutyambizi proceeded to where the minor was playing with his friend.

He grabbed the minor and told him that since he was good at wiping other people’s faeces off their backsides, he should do the same to him.

The State alleged that Mutyambizi dragged the minor into the toilet and locked the door. He defecated as the child watched.

He forced the boy to wipe him but the minor refused.

It is alleged that their tenant only identified as Mai Evelyn, who was listening to the conversation, shouted at Mutyambizi to stop what he was doing and he immediately opened the door and took to his heels.

Mutyambizi’s sister-in-law, Petronella Gomane, proceeded to Highlands Police Station where she reported the alleged abuse, leading to Mutyambizi’s arrest.